Facility Notes: Manuka Oval Deemed 'Ugly' For Saturday's AFL Match

Australia's Manuka Oval "beach" is no more, according to "embarrassed ACT officials" confident the iconic ground's surface is "back to its picturesque best" for Saturday's Australian Football League game between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and Port Adelaide Power. AFL Football Operations Manager Mark Evans deemed the surface "safe" but "ugly," admitting it was "a long way short of the standards that we want for an AFL match" (CANBERRA TIMES, 4/30). ... Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bangalore will be providing free Wi-Fi for all fans at Chinnaswamy Stadium on all days when the home team is playing in Bangalore. They become the "first cricket team in the world to offer free Wi-Fi" for fans at a stadium using a customized network of "specially laid fibre-optic cables" (JAGRAN POST, 4/30). ... ManU "will allow season-ticket holders from J stand to remain in that area of Old Trafford next term." The club "initially offered priority for seats in N2401 and N2402, known as the J stand, to fans who took part in trials for the singing section earlier in the season." But supporters discontent at being forced to move "has resulted in a re-think" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 4/30).